furnace with gas water heater

Investing in Water Heater Insulation to Save Money Year-Round

Your water heater is an important appliance that you rely on every day for cooking, cleaning, and bathing. Unfortunately, it can consume quite a bit of energy, depending on what your household’s demands are. There are ways that you can increase its efficiency, including the use of insulation around your unit.

Hot Water Heater Insulation Materials

Water heaters can be insulated using different types of materials, such as fiberglass or polyethylene foam. The thickness of what is used and the type of material it’s made out of will determine how well the insulation will help retain heat.

Keep in mind that you can insulate the pipes and plumbing around your hot water heater as well. If you insulate the pipes running from your hot water tank to your fixtures, less heat will be lost before the water reaches your faucets.

It’s recommended that you have a professional install your water heater insulation. This ensures proper fit and function.

Retaining Hot Water

If you have a water heater that isn’t insulated, there’s a certain amount of heat loss that occurs into the area around the tank. This is what causes your equipment to run more frequently. Insulation wraps around your tank, helping retain heat in the water inside. This minimizes running time, which can also protect the integrity of your equipment and lead to fewer repair needs over time. Studies have shown that having the proper type of insulation can lower your monthly energy bills by up to 15% in many cases.

Heating Water Faster

Not only does water heater insulation save you money, but it can provide better access to hot water, as the unit will produce it faster. When you turn on your kitchen sink’s faucet or try to fill your bathtub with hot water, you’ll be able to get hot water right away instead of having to wait for your tank to recover from previous usage.

Extending the Lifespan of Your Unit

By minimizing the amount of time that your hot water heater needs to run, you’ll experience less wear and tear on the tank and its related components. Routine maintenance is a great way to protect your water heater, but it’s inevitable that regular use will lead to the eventual need to replace it. You can save money by lengthening the useful life of your water heater while also ensuring the efficiency of your setup.

If you live in the Yuma, AZ, area and would like to learn more about the benefits of water heater insulation, reach out to PHD Plumbing today.